The death of a loved one is a time for grief and remembrance. But as many families know, it can also be a time when simmering tensions, and outright greed, boil over. The reading of a will is often the final act in a long family play, and while most are straightforward, some contain a final, shocking plot twist. A reader shared a story with us about his scheming cousin, who thought he had secured a hefty inheritance, only to find out that his great-aunt had saved her most brilliant performance for last.
They say you see people’s true colors when money is on the line. I always knew my cousin Greg was selfish, but I didn’t realize he was a full-blown villain until my great-aunt’s health started to fail. He spent her final months playing the part of a devoted nephew, not realizing she was writing the script for his downfall the entire time.
The Suddenly Devoted Nephew
My Great-Aunt Mildred was a firecracker. She was sharp, funny, and had a knack for seeing right through people. We were very close, and I visited her often. My cousin Greg, on the other hand, hadn’t visited her in years. That is, until she got sick.
Suddenly, Greg was the Nephew of the Year. He was at her house constantly, bringing her groceries, fluffing her pillows, and, most suspiciously, offering to “help” with her “confusing” financial paperwork. He’d tell the rest of the family things like, “Mildred and I have just grown so close. She says I’m the only one who really gets her.” It was nauseating. We later found out he was trying to get her to sign documents when she was on heavy pain medication and even tried to get power of attorney. He was a vulture circling, and he thought no one noticed. But he forgot how sharp Aunt Mildred was.
The Smuggest Man in the Room
The day of the will reading was somber for most of us. For Greg, it was a victory lap. He walked into the lawyer’s office with a smug, confident grin, giving me a look of fake pity. He was already talking loudly to his wife about his plans to renovate the house and sell off the antiques. He was so sure he had won.
The lawyer began to read. The first few items were small, sentimental bequests to various cousins and friends. Greg sat tapping his fingers impatiently, waiting for the main event. He leaned back in his chair, the picture of a man who believed he was about to become very wealthy. The lawyer cleared his throat and moved on to the final, most significant part of the will: the house and the remainder of the estate.
A Surprise Codicil
“To my beloved great-nephew, Alex,” the lawyer read, “who was a constant source of joy and a true friend to me in my life, I leave my house and the entirety of my remaining estate.”
A collective gasp went through the room. Greg’s face went from smug to white to a blotchy, furious red in about three seconds. “What?” he sputtered, standing up. “That’s not right! She told me— I helped her with a new will!”
The lawyer calmly held up a hand. “Please, sir, there’s more. Mrs. Mildred added a codicil just last month.” He then picked up a separate sheet of paper, a handwritten note from my aunt, which had been legally notarized. He read it aloud:
“To my great-nephew, Greg. I want to thank you for the incredible amount of attention you’ve paid me these last few months. Your sudden concern for my well-being has been the most entertaining part of my final days. For all your tireless efforts, I leave you my entire collection of prized porcelain cats, which you always told me you admired. I leave them to you on one condition: you must come to the house to personally dust each and every one of them, once a week for a year. My executor will be checking.”
The room was dead silent for a moment before someone coughed to stifle a laugh. Aunt Mildred’s porcelain cat collection was notoriously hideous, chipped, and utterly worthless. The added condition was a final, perfectly petty twist of the knife from beyond the grave. Greg looked completely and utterly humiliated. He stormed out of the office without another word.
Now, Greg is threatening to contest the will, claiming I manipulated our aunt. While most of the family is secretly thrilled he got what he deserved, a few feel that Aunt Mildred was too cruel and that I should offer Greg a small settlement to keep the peace. I think honoring my aunt’s final wishes, especially her hilarious last laugh, is what matters. AITA for refusing to give my greedy cousin a dime?
There are few things more satisfying than seeing a scheme backfire. The cousin’s transparent greed was met with a brilliant and witty response from a woman who was clearly underestimated. While some might call the final condition cruel, others would call it perfectly tailored karmic justice. Aunt Mildred didn’t just protect her estate; she wrote a final, unforgettable chapter to her life story, ensuring her cleverness would be remembered long after she was gone.
What do you think, readers? Was Aunt Mildred’s final revenge too harsh, or did the scheming cousin get exactly what he deserved? Let us know in the comments!
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